In desperation, Swanlinda took Cygnetta to speak with the flock elders. They lectured her on correct swan deportment.

“The swan is an elegant and regal bird, the royalty of feathered beings. We are born to grace the cultivated waters of kings and emperors, and to impress all with our beauty and grace. We do not chase children and livestock; we do not fly off with other species, abandoning our dignity and responsibilities; and, mostly, we do not honk!”

Meanwhile, Cygnetta would be sitting in the sun, watching the diamond ripples in the lake and the living arrows of flying geese overhead. She thought about how swans' voices seemed so raucous, out of keeping with their looks. She thought of how interesting were the lives and sounds of other animals. She thought about everything but the droning lecture.

Meanwhile, her poor mother was really beside herself. After all her efforts to conform and belong, to give a place of prestige and respect to her family within the flock, here was her daughter who gave not one feather about the family’s reputation. She feared becoming the outcast once more, just because her daughter could not resist flying off with those silly geese. As much as she loved Cygnetta, she did not understand her at all. Didn’t that cygnet understand how important community acceptance was to a flocking bird?

She swung from anger to horror to fear and back to anger. She begged, pleaded, bribed, threatened, cajoled, wept, but all to no avail. As soon as Swanlinda turned her back, off flew Cygnetta to do who knows what with who knows whom!